The best part? Attendees are free to gorge themselves until they're ready to roll home in a food coma. One $40 ticket gets you access to unlimited samplings from nearly 30 downtown restaurants and eateries.

What started as a loss-leader is now Downtown Visalians' biggest fundraiser, with more than 1,000 attendees annually.

And Nelsen promises this year's Taste celebration will pull out all the stops, with three performance stages, a beer garden, and wine tastings.

Live music will be provided by blues-rocking guitarist A.C. Myles, Visalia-native Andrew Kenefick's band Bigfoot and the Moon, and a jazz quartet from Redwood High School.

"We strive to hire local talent — always," said Blaire Bostwick, Downtown Visalians' event manager. The nonprofit pays performers with proceeds from the fundraiser, effectively reinvesting back into the community.

That spirit of community-building has undergirded A Taste of Downtown since the beginning, Bostwick says.

Old favorites and new delights

Two downtown Visalia fixtures — Southern Pacific Depot and Vintage Press — have supported A Taste of Downtown since its inception.

"The Southern Pacific Depot has been a part of the community for 47 years, and we have been a part of [Taste of Downtown] since it began 25 years ago," restaurant manager Corrie Krumdick said.

Management and chefs at the two restaurants anticipate Taste of Downtown each year as an opportunity to interact with the community, to greet old friends and make new ones.

"Many members of the community have celebrated weddings, birthdays, graduations —you name it — with us, creating memories that will last a lifetime," Krumdick said. "As a restaurant in downtown Visalia, we feel that it is very important to be involved in the community and to support the downtown way of life."

The downtown mainstays will be joined by a new establishment set to open just this Friday: Sol Bol.

The açaí bowl (pronounced "ah-sigh-ee" for the uninitiated) joint brings a popular coastal California food trend to the Central Valley, courtesy of two Visalia women who have transitioned from stay-at-home moms to proud small business owners.

"We saw a niche that needed to be filled," said Kim Brandenburg, who is opening Sol Bol with her business partner Julia Ellis in Char's old lot on Main Street. "Visalia is always a few years behind, and there are limited superfood options in downtown."

This year's Taste attendees will be treated to a mini "Sol Bol Signature" — that's a mix of the purple Brazilian berry and homemade granola topped with bananas, strawberries, and honey.

Brandenburg says the açaí comes in a pure sorbet form from Sambazon, a supplier that sources its fruit fresh from fair-trade growers in Brazil.

Brandenburg remembers visiting Taste of Downtown several times as a patron and always having a wonderful time.

"To be running our own table now is a real honor," she said. "We look forward to getting out there and introducing the community to our amazing product."

The Taste of Downtown Visalia has been going strong for 25 years.(Photo: Ron Holman)

Wine, beer & dessert

Of course, if healthy berries or organic juices aren't your speed, Taste of Downtown still has you covered.

Shelly's Specialty Desserts will bring an assortment of freshly baked mini apple pies, pumpkin cheesecake, and German chocolate brownies with coconut pecan icing — just in time for the fall season.

"Taste of Downtown is a good way for us to show people that we're not just wedding cakes," said Shelly Wade, who relocated her bakery from Exeter to downtown Visalia 12 years ago. "We offer a variety of baked goods and seasonal desserts."

Wade says she looks forward to the celebration each year because it's an easy way for "everyone in the community to find new places to eat."

And community is important to Wade, who keeps her cookies priced at just $1 to accommodate the families and children who frequently wander in after getting their haircuts at Boling's Barber Shop next door.

Patrons aged 21 and older, meanwhile, can double down on the decadence with beer from Brewbakers and Sequoia Brewing Company. Wine will also be provided by Suncrest Bank.

Approximately 1,200 tickets were printed this year, and Nelsen expects to sell all of them, so prospective attendees are encouraged to buy their $40 ticket from the Downtown Visalians office sooner than later.

Tickets will also double as ballots for attendees to vote on their top three favorite courses of the night. The winners will be handed the People's Choice Award. Expect a fierce but friendly competition, as Tazzaria, Left of Center, and Tommy's defend their titles.

How to Attend

Get stuffed at Taste of Downtown from 5:00-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 at your favorite downtown eateries.

$40 tickets can be purchased during normal business hours at the Downtown Visalians office, 120 S Church St, Visalia, CA.